The fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal continues to affect Meta, as a New Mexico jury has returned a massive verdict against the company. After a two-week trial in Santa Fe, the court found Meta responsible for 43 million violations of the state’s consumer protection laws.
With penalties reaching up to $5,000 for each violation, the total fine now stands at $25 billion, making it the largest financial penalty Meta has faced to date. The scale of the ruling is especially notable because Meta reported an estimated $42.6 billion in profit during the first half of 2026, meaning the penalty could consume nearly 60% of that figure.
According to the case, Meta deceived users by allowing third-party developers to access personal information without proper consent. The company has already said it plans to appeal the decision. Meta chief legal officer C. J. Mahney stated that the company believes it will succeed in overturning the ruling.
This is not the first time New Mexico has penalized Meta. Earlier this year, the state fined the company $375 million over alleged violations involving online child safety practices.
